Electromagnetic relay

ABSTRACT

Electromagnetic relay having a flat magnet core and a flat armature. The armature movement takes place around one of the edges of the magnet core. A U-shaped spring-clip, by elastic deformation of its legs, fastens a spring set on the core in such a position that a spring set by turning of the armature is brought from a rest position to a work position. The legs of the spring-clip extend beyond the magnet core at its side turned from the springs set and are provided each with a notch in order to form a bearing for projections on the armature.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Sven Ake Olof Stromberg Stockholm; Ake Gunnar Herbert Thurenius, Skarholmen; Hans Erik Wallin, Stockholm,

all of Sweden [21 Appl. No. 37,738

[22] Filed May 15, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 4, 1972 [73] Assignee Tolefonaktiebolaget L.M. Eriesson Stockholm, Sweden [32] Priority May 30, 1969 [33] Sweden [54] ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY 7 Claims, 2 Drawing [52] U.S. Cl 335/135 [51] ...H01h 51/06 [50] Field of Search 335/135,

[ 5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I I 3,242,285 3/1966 Obszarny et a1. 335/132 2,608,630 8/1952 Harrison 335/135 Primary Examinerl-larold Broome Attomey-l-lane, Baxley & Spiecens ABSTRACT: Electromagnetic relay having a flat magnet core and a flat armature. The armature movement takes place around one of the edges of the magnet core. A U-shaped spring-clip, by elastic deformation of its legs, fastens a spring set on the core in such a position that a spring set by turning of the armature is brought from a rest position to a work position. The legs of the spring-clip extend beyond the magnet core at its side turned from the springs set and are provided each with a notch in order to form a bearing for projections on the armature.

ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY The present invention relates to an electromagnetic relay, a fiat armature which along one of its edges bears on the core and is tumable around said edge on magnetization of the magnet core.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic relay which is built up of single parts which each can be produced at a low cost and can be combined in an easy manner without use of screws or other threaded parts.

The characteristics of a relay according to the invention are set forth in the claims.

The invention will be explained more in detail by means of an example with reference to the drawing;

FIG. 1 in perspective shows a relay according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 in perspective exploded view shows the details of the relay according to FIG. 1. I

In FIG. 1 a U-shaped magnet core 3 may be punched out of an iron plate. On one leg 31 of the core a magnetization coil 2 is arranged with its body 1 of for instance plastic material. An L-shaped armature 4 also punched out of an iron plate is pivotal about 20 its edge 41 with reference to the magnet core 3. By pivoting of the armature a spring set consisting of contact spring pairs 5, 6, 7 and 8 is actuated. For this purpose an L-shaped return spring 12 and a lifting bar 14 are provided. The bar has two slots 14a and 14b engaged by contact spring pairs 5 and 8 and is squeezed between the return spring and the free end of the armature 4 to operate these two contact spring pairs, by its movement during the turning of the annature against the power of elasticity of the spring 12. In this manner two break contacts and two make contacts are used. It is of course possible to operate for instance four make contacts.

The coil body 1 is provided with two projections la, 1b which form stops for the armature and the insulating filler for adjacent springs 6 and 7. The contact springs and the return spring are fastened as will be described more in detail in connection with FIG. 2, by means of mounting blocks 9, l and 11 of insulating material, in such a manner that they cannot be displaced in the plane of the springs and also are locked perpendicular to this plane. The mounting blocks together with the contact springs, squeezed therebetween, are fastened on the magnet core 3 by means of a U-shaped spring-clip 13 which interlocks a groove which is formed by adjacent situated notches in the spring fasteners and in the armature. The legs of the spring-clip extend beyond the magnet core at its side turned away from the spring set and is provided each with a notch 131 in which tap-shaped projections 42 on the armature 4 interlock. These notches form bearings for the armature so that it can pivot around the edge 41 at the magnetization of the coil.

FIG. 2 shows the components which are included in the arrangement according to FIG. 1. As it is shown, the L-shaped armature 4, punched out of a plate, is provided with two tapshaped projections 42 for cooperation with the notches 131 on the spring-clip 13 and a notch 43 for interlocking a notch 141 on the lifting bar 14. The U-shaped magnet core 3 is provided with two notches 33 which form a part of the continuous groove for the legs of the spring-clip 13. The magnet core furthermore has in one of its legs 32 two holes 34 for interlocking taps 91 on one of the spring-clips 9. In the spring-clip 9 there is embedded the spring pair and the spring-clip is at its lower part provided with suitable projections to keep the springs in the spring-clip 6 at a distance from each other and also to interlock openings in an insulating filler which keeps the spring pair 6 fastened against the spring-clip 9. The projections on the spring-clip 9 also extend between the contact springs in the contact spring pair 7 in order to separate the springs from each other the ends of the springs interlock the openings 11], 112 in the spring-clip 11 in which the contact spring pair 8 is embedded and which by interlocking the ends on the projection of the spring-clip 9 keeps the whole spring group in fixed position. The spring-clip 11 is at its lower side provided with a groove in WlllCll the L-shaped return spring 12 is fastened which at its end projecting from the bracket is provided with a hole 121 for interlocking the lifting bar 14. By pushing and elastically fastening the spring-clip 13 on the parts which are superimposed when inserted into the continuous groove, whereby a heel-shaped part 132 on the spring-clip bears on the surface of the magnet core and the notches I31 interlocking the projections 42 on the annature 4, the assembly of the relay is completed.

It is obvious that the said assembly method and the described construction respectively provide considerable advantages compared with conventional electromagnetic relays.

We claim:

I. An electromagnetic relay comprising in combination:

a magnet core;

an exciting coil mounted on said core;

an armature abutting along one of its edges against said core for causing pivoting of the armature aboutsaid edge by magnetic attraction in response to an energization of said coil;

a spring assembly including at least one holder and a pair of contact springs secured to said holder, said armature, said core and said spring assembly being disposed in superimposition;

an actuating member coupled to the armature and the spring assembly for moving the contact springs out of a rest position into an operated position in response to pivoting of the armature; and

a substantially U-shaped springy mounting clip, the legs of said clip overlying the armature and the base of the clip overlying the spring assembly thereby releasably holding the armature, the core and the spring assembly in said su perimposed position, each of the legs of the clip having an upwardly protruding extension including a cutout and the armature having adjacent to its pivot edge a protrusion engaged with the cutout, said cutouts and protrusions constituting bearing means for the armature.

2. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 1 and comprising a return spring also coupled to said actuating member for returning the contact springs from the operated position to the rest position upon deenergization of the coil.

3. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 2 wherein said return spring is interposed between the base of the clip and the spring assembly thereby holding the return spring also in superimposition with said assembly core and armature.

4. The electromagnetic relay according to claim I wherein the armature, the core and the holder of the spring assembly comprise openings and protrusions engaged with each other for locating the armature, the core and the spring assembly in said superimposed position.

5. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 1 wherein said armature is L-shaped, one arm of the L-shape including and defining said pivot edge andthe other being coupled to the actuating member.

6. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 5 wherein said core is generally U-shaped, said one leg of the armature overlying one of the legs of the core and said other leg of the armature bridging the legs of the core.

7. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 1 wherein said spring assembly comprises a second holder and a second pair of contact springs secured thereto in superimposition with the first pair, said holders having protrusions and openings engaged with each other for detachably locating the holders with reference to each other, said clip retaining the holders in said located position. 

1. An electromagnetic relay comprising in combination: a magnet core; an exciting coil mounted on said core; an armature abutting along one of its edges against said core for causing pivoting of the armature about said edge by magnetic attraction in response to an energization of said coil; a spring assembly including at least one holder and a pair of contact springs secured to said holder, said armature, said core and said spring assembly being disposed in superimposition; an actuating member coupled to the armature and the spring assembly for moving the contact springs out of a rest position into an operated position in response to pivoting of the armature; and a substantially U-shaped springy mounting clip, the legs of said clip overlying the armature and the base of the clip overlying the spring assembly thereby releasably holding the armature, the core and the spring assembly in said superimposed position, each of the legs of the clip having an upwardly protruding extension including a cutout and the armature having adjacent to its pivot edge a protrusion engaged with the cutout, said cutouts and protrusions constituting bearing means for the armature.
 2. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 1 and comprising a return spring also coupled to said actuating member for returning the contact springs from the operated position to the rest position upon deenergization of the coil.
 3. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 2 wherein said return spring is interposed between the base of the clip and the spring assembly thereby holding the return spring also in superimposition with said assembly core and armature.
 4. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 1 wherein the armature, the core and the holder of the spring assembly comprise openings and protrusions engaged with each other for locating the armature, the core and the spring assembly in said superimposed position.
 5. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 1 wherein said armaTure is L-shaped, one arm of the L-shape including and defining said pivot edge and the other being coupled to the actuating member.
 6. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 5 wherein said core is generally U-shaped, said one leg of the armature overlying one of the legs of the core and said other leg of the armature bridging the legs of the core.
 7. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 1 wherein said spring assembly comprises a second holder and a second pair of contact springs secured thereto in superimposition with the first pair, said holders having protrusions and openings engaged with each other for detachably locating the holders with reference to each other, said clip retaining the holders in said located position. 